Storage vault



May 21, 1929.

WA. SCHOLLMEYER 1,

STORAGE VAULT Filed Aug. 5, 1927 f? Q x J5 J6 J6 /Z 0 12 I I F? 1 23 I I40 V6\\ i i l l 9 .5 38 i F3 INVENTOR 35 30 MW/am cZa/fing er .I/ In. y

36 15% 4 ATTORNEYS Patented May 21, 1929.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM A. SCHOLLMEYER, OF YONKEBS, NEW YORK.

STORAGE VAULT.

Application filed August 5 1927. -Serial No: 210,867.

This invention relates to storage vaults or storage receptacles forgarments such as furs, clothing, or other articles.

It is a self-evident fact that insects, such as moths or other livinorganisms, cannot live without air. Therefore, if a storage receptacleor vault can be exhausted and a vacuum can be maintained therein damageto the garments or other articles within the vault will be entirelyeliminated.

This invention has for its salient object to provide a storagereceptable or vault having means for exhausting the air therefrom andfor maintaining a vacuum therein.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the followingspecification taken in connection with the drawings, which form a partof this application, and in which 7 Fig. 1 is a vertical sectionalelevation of a receptacle or vault constructed in accordance with theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on line 22 of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig.1;

Fi 4 is an elevational view artl broken e P y awa showing a portion ofthe door and the com inationlock and air valve for securing the door inclosed position; and

- Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional elevation showing the details-0f thelock and air valve. The invention briefly described consists of astorage receptacle or vault so constructed that the vault can be closedand sealed against the admission of air and having means for exhaustingthe air therefrom. Furthermore, there is provided an automatic controldevice. whereby the desired degree of vacuum can be maintained in thevault. The door of the vault is provided with a locking member soconstructed that when the locking member is turned in a direction tounlock the door air will be admitted to the vault, thus permitting thedoor to open.

Further details of the invention will appear from the followingdescription.

In the particular form of the invention illustrated there is shown areceptacle or vault having a com artment 11 extending partially accrossthe ottom thereof and a second compartment 12 also disposed at thebottom of the receptacle or vault;

The main storage chamber 13 is preferably provided with a rod 14 forsupporting hangers and with a shelf 15 perforated as shown at 16.

Access to the chamber 13 maybe had through an opening having a packingor sealing strip 21 of suitable material disposed at the border of theopening. A door 22 is hinged at 23 and has an inwardly projectingportion 24 adapted at its outer edge to enga e the packing o r sealingstrip 21 and seal tfie chamber.

The door is provided with a lock 28 having handles or arms 29 extendinglaterally therefrom and havin a shank 30 extending through an apertureds 31 through the wall 32 of the door and throu h an apertured boss 33disposed within the door.

The boss 31 has a lateral opening 35 an boss 33 also has a lateralopening 36. The shank 30 of the lock has a longitudinal recess 38adapted in one position of the shank to establish communication betweenthe opening 36 in the boss 33 and the opening 35 in the boss 31.

The shank 30 also has formed on or secured to the inner end thereof alaterally projecting'lug 40 adapted to extend behind the inner surfaceof the portion 41 of the receptacle wall, thereby locking the door inclosed position.

The compartment 11 at the bottom of the casing has mounted therein amotor 45 preferably supported on a base 46 of resilient or cushioningmaterial. The motor is connected to an exhaust pump 47, the intake ofthe pump having connected thereto an inlet pipe 48 which extendsupwardly and communicates with an opening 49 in the upper wall 50 of thecompartment 11. A screen'51 ispreferably mounted over the opening 49.The pump 47 is also preferably supported on a base 46 of resilient 'orcushioning material.

In order to insure the maintaining of a vacuum within the receptacle orvault, means is provided for closing the motor circuit and operating theexhaust pump in case the proper degree of vacuum has not beenmaintained. In the form of the invention illustrated this means consistsof a switch having one contact'member. carried by a hinge plate 56 andanother contact member 57 carried by the base 58 to which the plate orcover 56 is hinged, The member 56 has a. vent or bleed hole 72 therein.The hinged member 56 and the base 58 are connected by flexible sides 59and 60 and by a flexible end 61. As shown in Fig. 1, one side of thepower lead at is connected to the contact 55 and the other contact 57 isconnected by a wire 65 to one of the motor terminals 66. The other sideof the power lead 1 is connected to the other motor terminal 67.

The compartment 12 has a perforated cover 68 and communicates throughthe perforations with the chamber of the receptacle or vault. Access tothe compartment 12 is provided for by a hinged door 70 so constructedthat the door will seal the compartment against the admission of air.The door 22 may, if desired, be provided with a mirror as shown.

When the articles to be stored have been placed in the receptacle orvault, the door 22 is closed and the locking member 28 is turned so thatcommunication between the openings 35 and 36 will be closed and the lug40 will lock the door in closed position against the sealing or packingstrip 21. The motor is then started, operating the pump and causing theair to be exhausted from the cham-- ber 13. After the chamber has beenexhausted the motor is stopped and will not operate again untilsufficient air has leaked into the chamber and through the perforationsin the cover 68 of the compartment 12 to cause the hinged member 56 tomove downwardly a suflicient extent to engage the .contact 55 with thecontact 57. Movement of the hinged member 56 is permitted by reason ofthe bleed valve or opening 7 2. The motor will then be set in operationand will operate until the chamber has again been exhausted to such anextent that the hinged member 56 will rise, breaking the contacts 55 and57. In this manner a vacuum will be maintained in the chamber, thereby,insuring the garments or other articles therein against damage frommoths, insects orother living organisms. Furthermore, since the lockingmember may be provided with any desired form of lock, or vault areinsured against theft. The

the articles within the chamber vault or receptacle is preferably formedof sheet steel or similar material, thus protecting the contents in caseof fire.

Although one specific embodiment of the invention has been particularlyshown and described, it will be understood that the invention is capableof modification and that changes in the construction and in thearrangement of the various cooperating parts may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit or scope of the invention, as expressed in thefollowing claims.

What I claim is:

1. A storage receptacle having an opening to give access thereto, meansfor sealing said opening, a motor, an exhaust pump having an intakeconduit communicating with the interior of said receptacle, 2. chambercommunicating freely with the interior of said receptacle and havingsubstantially the same pressure condition as the interior of thereceptacle, and means including a motor circuit switch in said chamberresponsive to the degree of vacuum therein for closing the motor circuitand starting the motor.

2. A storage receptacle having an opening to give access thereto, meansfor sealing said opening, a motor, an exhaust pump having an intakeconduit communicating with the interior of said receptacle, a chambercommunicating freely with the interior of said receptacle and having thesame pressure condition as in said receptacle, and means ineluding amotor circuit switch in said chamber responsive to the degree of vacuumtherein for closing the motor circuit and starting the motor, saidswitch comprising a bellows having a movable leaf, a contact mounted onsaid leaf and a contact engageable therewith fixedly mounted relative tosaid leaf, said leaf being movable by pressure conditions in saidchamber.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 2nd day of August,1927.

WILLIAM A. SCHOLLMEYER.

